Glasshouse Square LLC, the developer chosen in 2018 by the City of DeLand to redevelop the Old Jail property at 130 W. New York Ave., is appealing to the Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial Circuit after the DeLand City Commission in June this year denied Glasshouse’s request for planned-development rezoning for the property, effectively killing the project.

Once the DeLand City Commission gave the green light to GlassHouse Square’s project, the city would demolish the Old Jail and the developer would begin construction of its mixed-use project: Glasshouse Square. 

Fast-forward to 2023: The developer wants to see the “unlawful decision” by the DeLand City Commission overturned.

Represented by Tampa attorney Stanley T. Padgett, Glasshouse’s suit, filed July 21, asks the court to overturn the rezoning denial, which the suit claims was made unfairly and illegally, and contrary to the city’s usual handling of zoning matters.

“The denial of the Application should be reversed, and the Application remanded to the City of DeLand for proper consideration in light of the correct law and standards, and the consistent application of its regulations …” the petition for a writ of certiorari reads.

DeLand City Attorney Darren Elkind responded to the lawsuit Aug. 3, asking for additional time to file “a substantive response” after a closed session with the DeLand City Commission. The so-called shade meeting, allowed under Florida’s open-meetings law to privately discuss a legal defense, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21.

How did we get here?

The appeal stems from the City Commission’s vote in June against a development plan proposal for the Old Jail site. The City Commission denied the application by a 4-1 vote citing the developer’s repeated lack of clarity on several aspects of the project. 

Following that decision, the City Commission agreed to sever its relationship with the developer.